A Place in Florida - Let's Cheer the Lowly Possum

There's a put in position Florida that built a 12-foot-superior monument in the middle of city to exalt the lowly possum. Now, why would everyone would like to perform that?
Very well, first off, heroes get effort and time to return by on this place in position Florida - the Panhandle city of Wausau, property of a lot less than 500 individuals through Washington County about ten miles south of Chipley.
Why don't you the possum, an unlikely hero to convey the the very least? Nobody else places the possum above a pedestal. Why not Wausau?
Secondly, back again 1982, Wausau bought Ill and Fed up with currently being ignored from the Florida lists of entertaining, fairs and festivals. Every single invest Florida requirements a Pageant. Instead of just one commit Florida incorporates a Possum Festival. Why don't you Wausau?
If you haven't long gone to Washington County, you almost certainly will Feel I am building this up. Should you have long gone to Washington County, you can comprehend - and know It's a legitimate story.
Wausau, it turned out, had some quite strong possum politicians within the early '80s. Listed here are two check here points they attained:


They persuaded the Florida Legislature to proclaim the 1st Saturday in August as Possum Working day in Florida. That led to the building in the monument together Point out Highway seventy seven in Wausau.

They even acquired The usa Congress to industry the possum. Congress joined the enjoyment by the money for Wausau's Possum Palace so Wausau would have a spot to carry its once-a-year Entertaining Day and Possum Festival. That includes a queen contest and possum auction, among other issues, the Competition attracts tons of folks Every and on a yearly basis, furthermore they locate it irresistible.
Time out for the number of educating of Northerners below. The South's possum is the same lowly animal you contact opossum, (Why use 7 letters when six can do?) It is a smallish marsupial that life in trees and displays its unsightly body only during the night time. This is exactly why, while you are Within the right area in Florida, you may hear possum hunters' canines baying and barking. Treed by puppies, the possum 'freezes', hence it really is very simple enough to catch (or shoot) a single.
An inscription with the monument all through Wausau cites the possum's purpose in offering 'both fur and foodstuff' through the whole hundreds of years. It goes on say: 'Their existence in this article has presented a supply of nutritious and flavorful foodstuff in typical instances and it has been an essential aid to human survival for the duration of periods of distress and significant will need.'
Giggle if you're keen on. The men and women of Wausau will chuckle together - when downing baked possum and sweet potatoes.